Miracle!🙏A priest won a car in his own parish’s raffle…

A video that recently began circulating on social media captured an unexpected and controversial moment during a church raffle in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The footage shows volunteers tossing raffle tickets into the air, while the presiding priest catches one mid-flight. Upon opening it, he announces with surprise: “You won’t believe it. It’s blank, it’s mine,” prompting laughter from those present.

The situation quickly drew attention online, as it revealed that the priest himself had won the main prize—a car—in a raffle he helped organize within the parish. Prior to the drawing, he had openly stated that he had also purchased tickets, some of which were not labeled with names.

Despite this disclosure, many internet users questioned the fairness and transparency of the process. Critics focused particularly on the optics of the organizer winning the top prize, even if no formal wrongdoing was immediately evident.

Social media discussions highlighted concerns over how the raffle was conducted and whether sufficient safeguards were in place to ensure impartiality. While the video shows the priest immediately acknowledging that the winning ticket belonged to him, the moment itself fueled skepticism.

As the video gained traction and media coverage expanded, the controversy grew beyond the local community. The negative reaction centered less on the priest’s participation and more on the uncomfortable perception created by the outcome.

In response, the priest, Eduardo Senna, released a follow-up video addressing the situation. He acknowledged the concerns raised and announced that the raffle would be conducted again.

He clarified that his own tickets would be excluded from the new drawing and emphasized that the car was never intended for personal use but for the benefit of the parish.

“I understand, I completely understand. This car would not be for me. This car would be for the parish, but I understand the doubts,” he stated.

The new raffle was scheduled to take place during a church service on April 9, presented as a direct response to the public backlash.

Reactions among parishioners and online audiences were divided. Some defended the priest, pointing out that he had been transparent about purchasing tickets beforehand. Others argued that transparency alone was not enough to prevent a conflict of interest or public distrust.

The incident illustrates how perception plays a crucial role in charitable initiatives, particularly those connected to religious institutions. Even without evidence of misconduct, the appearance of favoritism can significantly impact credibility.

Eduardo Cardozo de Senna has served as pastor of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish since January 2025, according to official records from the Archdiocese of Florianópolis. Born in Urubici, he was ordained as a deacon in 2017 and became a priest in 2018. He has previously served in other parishes and within the metropolitan seminary.

The raffle itself was part of a broader fundraising effort supporting five communities in the region. The expectation was that it would function purely as a charitable initiative. However, the outcome shifted attention away from the cause and toward the integrity of the process.

Importantly, there has been no formal accusation of fraud. The controversy instead stems from how the event appeared to the public, especially given the unconventional method of drawing tickets—tossing them into the air—and the highly visible nature of the result.

With no official statement beyond basic identification from the archdiocese, much of the narrative has been shaped by the video itself and the priest’s subsequent responses.

Ultimately, the episode highlights a key challenge in community fundraising: maintaining not only fairness, but also the clear perception of fairness. The decision to redo the raffle reflects an effort to restore trust and ensure that the initiative remains focused on its intended charitable purpose.